Storage and display container for electric appliance



Aug. 1, 1967 A. R. sPoHR ETAL STORAGE AND DISPLAY CONTAINER FOR ELECTRIC Filed Nov. 28. 1966 APPLIANCE 2 sheets-sheet 1v 11g l, 1967 A. R. SPOHR ETAL STORAGE AND DISPLAY CONTAINER FOR ELECTRIC APPLIANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 28, 1966 United States Patent O STORAGE AND DISPLAY CONTAINER FOR ELECTRIC APPLIANCE Albert R. Spohr, Park Ridge, and' Wilbur C. Jackson,

Wheaton, Ill., assiguors to Sunbeam Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 597,377 Claims. (Cl. 206-16) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to storage containers for appliances, and more particularly to a storage and display container in which two hingeably related housing members provide an enclosure for an electric shaver, and a tubular hinge member provides a storage space for the power cord.

Background of the invention It is conventional to market small electric appliances in boxes or containers which are suita'ble for retaining by the user as a receptacle in which to store the appliance in the home during periods of nonuse. In the case of electric Shavers, these containers are made either of metal, plastic or leather and conform to many different styles. One of the principal characteristics or requirements of the container or box is that it be suitable for the initial shipment of the shaver to the point of sale and that it be suitable for displaying the shaver in the retail store. Because of this display requirement, most plastic and leather vboxes have been abandoned in favor of a rigid metal box having two abutting halves which are hinged along one adjacent edge. The appeal of this type of metal container is that it is rigid enough to protect the shave-r during shipment and it may be opened up to display the shaver when on the shelf in the retail store.

Because of the competitive nature of the appliance business and particularly the electric shaver industry, the cost of packaging the appliance is an important considenation and attempts are continually being made to reduce this packaging cost to a minimum. Whenever attempts have been made to reduce the cost of the shipping and display container, however, sales suffer since the cheapening of the box is apparently evident to the consumer and is reflected in reduced sales. Accordingly, it would ybe desirable to provide an inexpensive yappliance container which would have a quality appearance and which would be suitable for shipping and displaying the appliance contained therein.

Summary of the invention The invention is directed to a storage container for an electric appliance wherein the container includes two plastic housing members having their walls abutting to form an enclosure and having tubular coaxially arranged hinge members which are held in aligned position `by means of a sleeve which forms ra storage compartment. The appliance, which is preferably a shaver, is stored in the main enclosure, rwhile the cord may be easily arranged in loose folds which may be inserted into the sleeve which forms the hinge storage compartment. This arrangement provides a container `which is particularly suitable for display purposes in a retail store since the cord is hidden from view in the hinge compartment so that it will not detract from the display of the shaver itself. When the shaver has been sold, the container provides an eiicient storage means for the day-to-day user of the shaver. The container is compact, while at the same time including a suthcient volume to receive and store the power cord easily and conveniently.

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It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved storage container for an electric appliance.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved shipping and display container for an electric shaver having a hidden cord storage compartment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a storage container for an electric shaver wherein said container is made up of two housing members which are hingeably retained together by a tubular member which serves as a cord storage compartment.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to 'and forming a part of this specification.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. l is a perspective view of the storage container embodying the invention, the container being shown in the open position `with an electric shaver received therein;

FIG. 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, assuming the container cover is in the closed position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on line '3 3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the storage container with the parts thereof disassembled.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a storage box or container which is designated generally by reference numeral 11. The container 11 is made up of two molded plastic parts, a cover `or top member 12 and a base or bottom member 13. The members 12 and 13 are somewhat cup-shaped in configuration and may be of substantially the same depth, `but in the instant case the bottom member 13 is substantially shallower than the top member 12, thereby providing for more complete exposure of a shaver 14 as is shown in FIG. 1. This more complete exposure is desirable when the shaver is being displayed to potential purchasers in a retail store.

The bottom member 12 includes Ia front Wall 13a, side Awalls 13b and a rear wall 13o. As may be seen in FIGS. l and 4, the rea-r wall 13e is formed `with a cylindrical curvature and supports at both ends Ia pair of cylindrical portions 13d which serve as trunnions or journals for the case hinge to be described more completely below. The bottom member 13 is also provided with a substantially flat bottom Wall 13e. Received within the bottom member 13 are cardboard positioning members 15 and 16 which are received on and pinned in place by Imeans of vertically extending protuberances 13j. The positioning members 15 and 16 are formed with interior cutouts 15a and 16a, respectively, which conform generally to the exterior silhouette or configuration of the shaver 14. Thus, when the shaver 14 is placed in the base 13, the members 15 and 16 tend to locate the shaver in a position spaced from the exterior walls of the container 11.

For the purpose of supporting the shaver 15 in an inclined position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2, the lowermost positioning member 15 is formed with a transversely extending bar 15b which forms adjacent thereto a recess 15C Vwithin which the corner of the shaver is received. In this inclined position the shaver may be more easily seen by a buyer, particularly if the container is on a shelf lat or near eye level.

As is conventional in display boxes of this type, a velveteen mask or cover 17 is placed in the base 13 to cover the cardboard positioning members 15 and 16 and to provide a rich land attractive -looking background for the shaver 14. It should be appreciated that the velveteen mask 17 is supported on a cardboard frame 18 having a central cutout into which the mask 17 drapes down against the bottom 13e of the member 13. Y

The top member 12 is formed with a front wall 12a, side walls 12b and a rear wall 12C. The walls 12a and 12b are positioned to abut against the walls 13a and 13b to form an enclosure 19 Within which the shaver 14 is received for storage or shipping purposes. The top wall 12d extends across the top ofthe storage container 11 and may be contoured or textured to provide an attractive exterior appearance. The interior of the cover 12 may be provided with a fabric liner so as to present an attractive appearance when the case is in the open or display position as shown in FIG. 1.

Formed with and extending along the rear wall 12C is a semicylindrical channel portion 12]c as is best shown in FIG. 4. Spaced from the ends of the channel portion 12j is a cylindrical portion 12g which is of the same diameter asv the cylindrical portions 13d formed on the base 13. At one end of the channel 12j there is provided an end wall or closure 12h which extends perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical portion 12g and the channel portion 12f. t

When the cover 12 and the base 13 are assembled together, the trunnions or cylindrical portions 13d are received within the channel portion 12j immediately adjacent the ends of the cylindrical portion 12g thereby forming a continuous tube made up of the cylindrical portions 12gl and 13d. In order to retain the cylindrical portions in this tubular relationship there is provided a sleeve 20 which is insertable into the cylindrical portions 12g and 13d. The sleeve v20 is formed with a lengthwise extending slot 20a to permit the sleeve 20 to be reduced in diameter slightly, thereby facilitating its assembly :into the cylindrical portions 12g and 13d.

To retain the sleeve 20 in its assembled position, there is provided a sidewardly extending tab or projection 20b which consists of an integral portion ofthe tube 20y formed by a U-shaped slot or cut in the tube 20. The cylindrical portion 12g on the top 12 is tapered at 12j as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. When the sleeve 20 is completely inserted into the tube formed -by cylindrical portions 12g and 13d, it abuts the end wall or closure 12h and positions the tab 20h within the tapered portion 12j. In such position, the tab 20h engages one end of the outermost trunnion 13d, thereby preventing the sleeve 20 from being moved axially away from the end wall 12h.

Received in the opposite end of the tube lfrom the end wall 12h is Ia cap or closure member 21. The closure member 21 has a gripping section 21a of enlarged diameter which is knurled around its periphery to provide a surface which may be easily grasped by the fingers to rotate the cap 21 and move it axially out of engagement withgthe trunnion 13d. Extending into interfering engagement with the inside diameter of the trunnion 13d is cylindrical wall 2lb. As is shown in FIG. 3,V the wall 2lb is spaced from the end of the sleeve 20 when in its assembled position on the container 11. It should be evident that the sleeve 20 forms a hinge pin for the hingeable connection between the cover 12 and the base 13 and at the same time cooperates with the end wall 12h and the cap21 to form `a compartment 22 within which a shaver cord 23 maybe readily stored. The compartment 22 is of such generous size that the cord 23 may be stored readily without the careful winding which is characteristically necessary to yaccommodate appliance cords in conventional storage compartments. Another signiiicant aspect of the invention is the fact that the storage compartment 22 is almost unnoticed from an aesthetic standpoint and it makes eicient use of space which, in a conventionally hinged box, would be virtually useless.

The entire box assembly consists of four molded platsic parts, the cover 12, the baise 13, the sleeve 20 and the cap 21, which parts may be assembled together by `an inexperienced person with the use of no tools in a matter of seconds. The remaining inserts, including the position- .4 ing members 15V and 1 6, the mask 17 and cardboard frame 18 are low in cost and may be easily and quickly assembled to the four plastic parts described above. The resulting container is aesthetically appealing for use in displaying an electric shaver or other appliance and is functionally appealing because of the ease in which the power cord may'be inserted into and removed from the hinge type storage compartment.

While there has been shown and described .a particular embodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and itis, therefore, contemplated in the appended claims to cover -all such changes and modiiications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. i p

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A storage case for an electric appliance comprising upper and lower housing members hingeably connected, each member having wall portions which abut around the periphery to form an enclosure within which an electric appliance may -be stored, cylindrical portions extending outwardly from one edge of each of said members, said cylindrical portions being coaxial and extending parallel to la pair of .abutting edges of said Wall portions, said cylindrical portions being of the same diameter and positioned to form a continuous tube for storing the power. cord for said appliance, a cylindrical assembly sleeve received in said tube to connect said housing members for pivotal movement about the axis of said cylindrical portions. t

2. The storage case of claim 1 wherein said sleeve is slit axially s0 that its'diameter may be reduced to facilitate assembly of said sleeve within said tube.

3. The storage case of claim 1 comprising an end wall formed on one of said housing members to close one end of said tube, a detachable closure received in the other end of said tube to form a closed cord storage compartment. A

, 4. The storage case of claim 1 wherein said upper housing member is provided with a hinge guide channel extending axially from both ends of the cylindrical porf tion on said upper housing member, said cylindrical p0rtion on said lower housing having a pair of spaced cylindrical elements received in said channel.

5. The storage case of claim 4 wherein said cylindrical portion on said upper housing rnember is tapered outwardly on its inner diameter at one end, a closure wall formed on said upper housing member positioned in said channel at the outer end of one of said elements, an outwardly protruding assembly tab on said sleeve positioned to be received against said taper and abut the other of said elements to retain said sleeve assembled to said tube.

6. A storage case for an electric shaver comprising a cup-shaped bottom housing member having a pair of spaced coaxial trunnions positioned at lopposite ends of a straight side wall, an inverted cup-shaped top housing member positioned with its walls in abutting relation'to the walls of said bottom member, a semicylindrical channel member formed :integrally with said top member with said trunnions received in said channel to guide `and support said top and bottom members for relative pivotal movement `about the common axis of said channel and said trunnions, a cylinder in said channel formed integrally therewith extending between .and coaxially with respect to said trunnions to form a continuous tube, a retaining sleeve received Within said tube to serve as a hinge pin for said housing members, and closure means for both ends of said tube to form a storage compartment of suitable dimensions to receive a power cord for said shaver.

7. The storage case of claim 6 wherein said bottom housing member is provided with contoured support to snugly receive an electric shaver lying flat with respect to the bottom wall of the bottom housing member, and means in said bottom housing member to prop said shaver in an .inclined position for display purposes when said case is inthe open position.

8. The storage case of claim 46 wherein said sleeve is provided with lan integrally formed projection extending lengthwise of the sleeve and being deformed outwardly beyond the outer surface of the sleeve, and a notch formed in said tube to receive said projection and retain said sleeve in assembled relation to said tube.

9. The storage case of claim 6 wherein said top member is formed with an integral closure wall positioned at one end of said tube whereby said cylinder and said closure wall straddle one of said trunnions.

10. The storage case of claim 9 including a cup-shaped closure removably received in the other end of said tube, ysaid closure having cylindrical walls which engage with an interference t the inner diameter of one of said trunnions, and said sleeve being spaced axially inwardly from the cylindrical walls of said closure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,928,532 3/1960 Varrieur 206 16 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A STORAGE CASE FOR AN ELECTRIC APPLIANCE COMPRISING UPPER AND LOWER HOUSING MEMBERS HINGEABLY CONNECTED, EACH MEMBER HAVING WALL PORTIONS WHICH ABUT AROUND THE PERIPHERY TO FORM AN ENCLOSURE WITHIN WHICH AN ELECTRIC APPLIANCE MAY BE STORED, CYLINDRICAL PORTIONS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM ONE EDGE OF EACH OF SAID MEMBERS, SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTIONS BEING COAXIAL AND EXTENDING PARALLEL TO A PAIR OF ABUTTING EDGES OF SAID WALL PORTIONS, SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTIONS BEING OF THE SAME DIAMETER AND POSITIONED TO FORM A CONTINUOUS TUBE FOR STORING THE POWER CORD FOR SAID APPLIANCE, A CYLINDRICAL ASSEMBLY SLEEVE RECEIVED IN SAID TUBE TO CONNECT SAID HOUSING MEMBERS FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTIONS. 